Turnable display device

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to improvements in turntable or rotatable display devices on which a great variety of wares, merchandise and the like may be accommodated for sale, display, distribution, etc. The device principally consists of a tubular aluminum and like extrusion element, which is rotatably connected to a central supporting post via a thrust bearing and the like and may be turned about said post to assume different locations relative to said post. This extruded body or element is of a special profile in cross-section and is employed to support a plurality of lengthy partitions, between which display sections are created, in which through suitable connection between each tray or shelf and said extruded element the partitions are maintained in position and stabilized during their operation and in their assembly, although said partitions may be manufactured from relatively thin sheet metal, e.g., aluminum, steel and the like or even from plastic material. The crux of the invention is to couple and anchor the partitions as well as the display trays on a single central tubular body which is profiled in crosssection to facilitate anchorage of all the vital parts of the new display device onto a central and tubular column constituting the extruded body.

United States Patent Kramer [54] TURNABLE DISPLAY DEVICE [72] Inventor: Jerome D. Kramer, New York, NY.

[73] Assignee: Howard Displays, Inc., New York,

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 87,938

[52] US. Cl. ..2ll/l3l, 108/60, 108/106, 108/11 1. [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 3/14 [58] Field ofSearch ..2l1/l3l, 95,144, 184,163; 108/27, 60, 109, 139

Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr. Attorney-Leon M. Strauss [is] 3,685,664 1451 Aug. 22, 1972 [57] ABSTRACT The present invention relates to improvements in turntable or rotatable display devices on which a great variety of wares, merchandise and the like may be accommodated for sale, display, distribution, etc. The device principally consists of a tubular aluminum and like extrusion element, which is rotatably connected to a central supporting post via a thrust bearing and the like and may be turned about said post to assume different locations relative to said post. This extruded body or element is of a special profile in cross-section and is employed to support a plurality of lengthy partitions, between which display sections are created, in which through suitable connection between each tray or shelf and said extruded element the partitions are maintained in position and stabilized during their operation and in their assembly, although said partitions may be manufactured from relatively thin sheet metal, e.g., aluminum, steel and the like or even from plastic material. The crux of the invention is to couple and anchor the partitions as well as the display trays on a single central tubular body which is profiled in cross-section to facilitate anchorage of all the vital parts of the new display device onto a central and tubular column constituting the extruded body.

, 8 Clains, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEDmczz I972 sum 1 0r 3 INVENTOR ffzawf 17 MM M 6 PATENTEDwszz m2 SHEET 2 OF 3 INVENTOR $560M? Q. KFAgV/d' PATENTEDMIBZZIBTZ 3.685664 SHEET 3 OF 3 INVENTOR I O/v5 1D. (FA/W51? TURNABLE DISPLAY DEVICE Rotary devices for display and distribution of merchandise have been heretofore known, which, however, comprise a great number of operative parts, which are not joined together in a facile manner in order to obtain a relatively sturdy display device. Such devices, during usual and rough handling by customers in supermarkets, stores and like establishments, become easily dislodged and contribute to an early collapse and failure of the display device. If the latter is loaded with merchandise it will not perform its function during any extended length of time, and cannot be considered to be compact enough and of sufficient strength, requires rather a lot of servicing and is not reliable in operation.

The present invention does away with these and other well know disadvantages and inconveniences and contemplates the creation of a very stable and compact rotatable display device of the aforesaid character in which the main parts thereof are operatively and directly coupled and efficiently connected with a rotatable tubular body or column, which'cooperates with a known stationary post of the device preferably equipped with an undercarriage having casters or rollers for moving about along a floor space.

The present invention further proposes as a novel feature to lock the partitions of the device in place when engaged in grooves of the extruded body and to releasably attach the shelf or tray in their positional relationship with respect to adjacent partitions and the center column or body, as well-as in regard to other, especially neighboring display trays located in other sectional areas.

Other important features of the invention comprise the selection of any shaped perforations provided in the partitions or walls, said perforations being either horizontally or vertically elongated, round or diamondshaped or assuming any other configuration suitable for the purpose of the invention.

Further objects of the invention result from the great versatility of the turnable or rotatable display device, in which trays once engaged with given profiled mounting means, such as channel elements of the tubular column may be further supported in a peg-shaped fashion via holders which may be variously formed and engaged with predetermined perforations of the partition walls, while the molded or suitably shaped tray or trays are provided with corresponding recesses or openings for the insertion of projections of the holders. The trays due to their special linked anchorage may assume not only horizontal, but even somewhat inclined positions with respect to each other, which novel effect leads to an enlarged field of display and like applications.

According to the invention there is further provided means contributing to an easy assembly and disassembly of the device even by unskilled labor, to a ready movement from location to location and its facile operation even along bumpy floors often experienced in supermarkets and the like.

These and other advantages, features and objects will ensue from the attached drawings, the following description and claims which are not to be restricted in scope with respect to a preferred embodiment herein disclosed in the drawings.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows somewhat in perspective and in exploded view as seen from above a portion of an extruded body made in accordance with the invention, anchorage of a partition and of a shelf or tray being indicated.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section through the upper portion of an assembled device of the invention showing one partition in place.

FIG. 3 shows in perspective an upper section of the turnable display device defined by adjacent perforated partitions, whereas FIG. 4 shows in perspective .the lower section of the turnable device made according to the invention, the lower section being fitted with partitions having perforations whose configurations are different from those of FIG. 3; a rollable undercarriage for the device being indicated.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show in perspective respective parts of partition walls having different perforations for use with different tray holder means.

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of the present device pursuant to the invention with adjacent partition portions and a portion of a tray associated with the central support body in engaged and set-up condition.

With reference to the accompanying drawings there are shown and disclosed in FIGS. 1 and 2 salient parts embodying the invention and indicating certain funda mental improvements relating to a rotary display device 10 or 10a of the type known per se in the prior art, including an undercarriage 11 with casters 12 to move the device from place to place, as it is quite apparent from FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively. The principal parts of such device comprise further a central stationary elongated post 12 which may be affixed to the undercarriage, extends thereabove a predetermined length and is surrounded by a sleeve-shaped body or column 15. This body 15 together with its cover or guide plate 14 is suspended from a special or thrust bearing 13 seated on the upper end of the post and coacting with plate 14 when the latter is welded or otherwise fixed to the top end of body 15, as may be realized from FIG. 2.

The inventive concept underlying the present invention is to mount all other essential or vital parts of the device on the column 15, which may be round, square or polygonal in cross-section and is shaped in cross-section for the implementation of coupling with said column 15 the partitions l6 and shelves or trays 17 as hereinafter more fully set forth. To this end the column or body is made of tubular, profiled metal or other suitable material of predetermined gauge which lends itself to extrusion work and incorporates a number of one type of profiled elongated mounting means or grooves 18 open at their peripheral ends 18a and closed at their inner ends 18b located adjacent said post 12. The body is further equipped with another profiled type of (mounting means such as) (e.g. T- shaped) lengthy channels 20 whose open ends 20lie also along the periphery of the body, these channels being positioned preferably intermediate two adjacent grooves and showing closed ends at 20b These elongated grooves and channels may differ, in some instances, as to their lengths and locations, if desired. If the display device is to be equipped with four partitions 16 forming respective sectional display areas,

then the device will usually afford the arrangement of four rows of trays 17 of substantially equal dimensions between said partitions although the trays may assume different configurations therebetween and may be disposed at predetermined heights and locations with respect to each other and relative to the corresponding partitions.

These grooves 18 and channels 20 serve to receive, respective partitions and trays which are coupled thereto, so that the body will carry all these essential parts in very convenient and facile manner which necessitates no tools or accessories and considerably reduces the manufacturing cost.

As seen on the left hand side of FIG. 1, partition 16 is provided with rows of horizontal slots 16a distributed over its surface and with a flap or lung 16c stamped or cut out from the upper end edge of the respective partition, which lug is suitably bent over to be seated at 22 at the end edge of the respective groove 18. On the right side of FIG. 1 it can be visualized that triangularshaped tray 17 by means of its profiled (T-shaped) projection 25 located at the tray rearward edge can be readily inserted in the front end opening a of T- shaped channel 20 and then swung in the direction of arrow A so that cross-piece 23 becomes engaged with the correspondingly shaped part of channel member 20.

It is well understood that projection 25 once engaged in channel member still leaves the remainder of the tray supported to a lesser degree. This will also enable the tray 17 with its usually equipped front molding 26 to take up a somewhat inclined position relative to the axis of post 12 and two adjacent partitions 16 which in some instances is desirable for the displacement of wares along the top surface of the respective tray.

Depending on the type of perforations (round, elongated horizontally or vertically directed, or angularshaped), the invention contemplates further a suitable support of the respective tray underface by means of bracket-shaped extruded holders 30 or 31 (FIGS. 5 and 6) each having fingers 30a or 31a shaped to register with corresponding recesses or holes 17a, 17b, etc. provided preferably in the underface of the plastic-made tray. These holes may, of course, also pass through the tray element, as shown.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 5, the holder 30 forms interengageable means, is made up for the engagement with horizontally elongated perforations and has a built-in locking tab or strap 33 with slot 34, whose walls firmly embrace the partition wall thickness and facilitate registry of peg or finger 30a with a correspondingly located tray hole, say, 17a, etc. thus any of the trays may be undisplaceably seated and retained in position, be the latter in a horizontal plane or be it somewhat in forwardly inclined position while the rear end of the tray still remains in concatenated relationship with the respective channel member of the tubular column, as is well understood. The release of the tray may be readily had by first lifting same from its engagement with the said fingers and then swinging the tray together with its projection 25 to a position as indicated in the upper portion of FIG. 1.

It will be well observed that if the partition would be provided with rows of vertical and elongated slots or perforations 39, the respective holder 31 therefor would be modified to incorporate a downwardly directed slot 34a provided in side tab or tabs 33a in order to facilitate adjustment and anchorage of holder 31 with respect to the modified partition 16b as clearly depicted in FIG. 6. This latter array of attachment of interengageable holders 31 is demonstrated in FIG. 3 showing a partial view with broken off tray portion.

FIG. 7 shows somewhat in perspective and in greater detail the assembly of two partitions 16, both having rows of horizontally directed elongated perforations 16a with the central extruded column and their grooves 18, as well as of a portion of a tray 17 provided with profiled projection 25 forming part of the molded tray or otherwise connected to the rearward tray edge 17A for the engagement with and retention in the profiled elongated channel member 20 as is well understood. The rear tray edge itself may be differently shaped to conform exactly to the respective cross-section of extruded hollow body or column 15 which may assume any desired configuration.

It can thus be seen that there has been provided in accordance with the invention a highly simplified and most efficacious construction, especially in the field of display and like devices, which, as it can be inexpensively mass-produced and easily shipped and assembled, find ready access to merchandise display and distribution in an orderly and pleasing fashion which enhances sales promotion with a technically highly improved version of rotary devices over those now on the market.

It is to be noted that cover plate 14 has a central threaded opening 42 with which engages threaded end of rod 41 of a price or display sign 40.

As before described the T-channels and elongated grooves of the extruded body 15 will be in registry with elongated slots 14a and T-slots 14b of cover plate 14, elongated slots 14a thereof being, however, somewhat greater in width than grooves 18 to facilitate accommodation of lugs 16c at 22 (FIG. 1) in said cover plate slots 14a.

Projection 25 of the tray may be made from ductile or somewhat bendable material to facilitate suitable inclination of the tray in assembly condition (FIG. 7).

What I claim is:

1. In a rotary display device having a central support for maintaining a lengthy column in rotatable position thereon; said column being made of extruded material and having a perimeter profiled in cross-section, partition means, tray means each provided with a projection a plurality of radially, inwardly extending first elements in said column and forming elongated grooves which are open at the perimeter and substantially parallel to the axis of said column, a plurality of radially, inwardly extending second elements in said column and forming elongated channels, said channels being open along said perimeter and being located intermediate said grooves, each of which latter is structured to receive and support therein a corresponding part of a respective partition means, said elongated channels being shaped in profile to rotatably and slidably receive correspondingly formed projection provided on each of said tray means for coupling the latter with said channels and for location between two partition means.

2. In a device according to claim 1, including interengageable means structured to extend between each of said partitions and corresponding adjacent parts of said tray means for anchoring said tray means in predetermined position to adjacent partitions.

3. In a device according to claim 1, including cover plate means applicable to the top end of said column, and means forming part of each partition to retain the latter in position in the respective groove at the top end of the latter near said cover means.

4. In a display device according to claim 3, said cover means being provided with slotted openings which are of greater dimension than that of the lengthy grooves.

5. In a device according to claim 1, wherein said column is made of extruded metal material and in which said grooves and said channels making up said profile of said column in cross-section radially extend toward the central axis of said column and present at the outer surface of the latter openings for the insertion of said partitions and said projections of said trays.

6. In a device according to claim 3, said cover means having further slotted openings conformed in shape and dimension substantially corresponding to those of said elongated channels, so that projections of said tray means may be readily fitted and engaged in said channels for position relatively to said column, said channels and said grooves being respectively in registry with the slotted openings of said cover means.

7. A rotary display device having a central support, comprising an elongated extruded hollow body connected to said support for relative rotation thereabout, the periphery of said body being provided with two types of profiled engageable means radially extending toward the axis of said body and spaced from each other, all said profiled means opening at the periphery of said body, partition means, and tray means, each tray means including a forward end and a rearward end and lateral end faces between said ends, said partition means being structured and positionable to engage one type of said profiled means, said rearward end of each tray means being structured for slidable engagement with and positionable in another type of said profiled means and with said lateral end faces for location between two adjacent partition means.

8. A rotary device having a central support comprising an extruded body operatively connected to said support and for relative rotation thereto, said body having a perimetrical surface provided with a plurality of inwardly and radially extending integral mounting means profiled in cross-section, said mounting means being spaced from each other and opening lengthwise of said surface and in substantially axial direction of said body, partition means, tray means, each of said partition means being positionable for anchorage in respective mounting means, the space between adjacent partition means being shaped for the location of said tray means, each tray means having a frontal end and a rearward end, the rearward end of each tray means being structured to rotatably interengage with respective other of said mounting means, said tray means being shaped for location in the sectional space between two adjacent partition means when interengaged with other of said mounting means, and respective coupling means on said tray means and on said partition means to facilitate connection devoid of any fastening medium between said tray means and partition means for anchor-age on the latter. 

1. In a rotary display device having a central support for maintaining a lengthy column in rotatable position thereon; said column being made of extruded material and having a perimeter profiled in cross-section, partition means, tray means each provided with a projection a plurality of radially, inwardly extending first elements in said column and forming elongated grooves which are open at the perimeter and substantially parallel to the axis of said column, a plurality of radially, inwardly extending second elements in said column and forming elongated channels, said channels being open along said perimeter and being located intermediate said grooves, each of which latter is structured to receive and support therein a corresponding part of a respective partition means, said elongated channels being shaped in profile to rotatably and slidably receive correspondingly formed projection provided on each of said tray means for coupling the latter with said channels and for location between two partition means.
 2. In a device according to claim 1, including interengageable means structured to extend between each of said partitions and corresponding adjacent parts of said tray means for anchoring said tray means in predetermined position to adjacent partitions.
 3. In a device according to claim 1, including cover plate means applicable to the top end of said column, and means forming part of each partition to retain the latter in position in the respective groove at the top end of the latter near said cover means.
 4. In a display device according to claim 3, said cover means being provided with slotted openings which are of greater dimension than that of the lengthy grooves.
 5. In a device according to claim 1, wherein said column is made of extruded metal material and in which said grooves and said channels making up said profile of said column in cross-section radially extend toward the central axis of said column and present at the oUter surface of the latter openings for the insertion of said partitions and said projections of said trays.
 6. In a device according to claim 3, said cover means having further slotted openings conformed in shape and dimension substantially corresponding to those of said elongated channels, so that projections of said tray means may be readily fitted and engaged in said channels for position relatively to said column, said channels and said grooves being respectively in registry with the slotted openings of said cover means.
 7. A rotary display device having a central support, comprising an elongated extruded hollow body connected to said support for relative rotation thereabout, the periphery of said body being provided with two types of profiled engageable means radially extending toward the axis of said body and spaced from each other, all said profiled means opening at the periphery of said body, partition means, and tray means, each tray means including a forward end and a rearward end and lateral end faces between said ends, said partition means being structured and positionable to engage one type of said profiled means, said rearward end of each tray means being structured for slidable engagement with and positionable in another type of said profiled means and with said lateral end faces for location between two adjacent partition means.
 8. A rotary device having a central support comprising an extruded body operatively connected to said support and for relative rotation thereto, said body having a perimetrical surface provided with a plurality of inwardly and radially extending integral mounting means profiled in cross-section, said mounting means being spaced from each other and opening lengthwise of said surface and in substantially axial direction of said body, partition means, tray means, each of said partition means being positionable for anchorage in respective mounting means, the space between adjacent partition means being shaped for the location of said tray means, each tray means having a frontal end and a rearward end, the rearward end of each tray means being structured to rotatably interengage with respective other of said mounting means, said tray means being shaped for location in the sectional space between two adjacent partition means when interengaged with other of said mounting means, and respective coupling means on said tray means and on said partition means to facilitate connection devoid of any fastening medium between said tray means and partition means for anchorage on the latter. 